Acela-Kassapa

Person

A naked ascetic who questioned the Buddha about his teachings in the discourse now called the Kassapa-Sīhanāda Sutta, later joined the Order, and became an Arahant.

A naked ascetic. He visited the Buddha at Ujuññā in the Kaṇṇakatthala deer-park and asked him if it were true that he disparaged all penance and reviled ascetics. Their conversation is recorded in the Kassapa-Sīhanāda Sutta (D.i.161 ff). After the usual four months’ probation, he joined the Order and in due course became an Arahant (D.i.177; but according to DA.i.363 he was ordained forthwith).

In the Majjhimanikāya (M.iii.124 ff; also AA.i.171) we are told that he was an old friend of Bakula Thera, and that after a conversation with him obtained his ordination (under him).